A Hampshire teenager's opportunity of a lifetime has been delayed after the world-famous yacht Gipsy Moth IV ran aground over the weekend.

Daniel Elvin, pictured, 16, must now wait until tonight to find out if he can fly out to Tahiti tomorrow to join the crew of the yacht in their attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

Daniel Elvin, 16, was due to fly out to Tahiti on Sunday to join the Gipsy Moth IV and sail from Tahiti to Bora Bora. However the 54ft yacht, refurbished to the tune of £300,000 for this latest effort, ran aground on a tiny island in the Pacific.

Skipper Antonia Nicholson and two crew members have stayed with the boat whilst its remaining teenage crew have been flown on ahead to Tahiti while the damage is assessed and repaired. Daniel's foster dad Ken Kloss said Daniel was so disappointed.

"We will see what happens," Mr Kloss said.

"The crew do not think they have done any real damage but it will have to be checked out and repaired."

Daniel is one of dozens of youngsters chosen to take part in the round-the-world trip on Sir Frances Chichester's record-breaking yacht through charity UK Sailing Academy.

Youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds, with learning disabilities or who have overcome illnesses were offered the chance to take part in the voyage on Gipsy Moth IV, four decades after Sir Francis Chichester famously sailed her solo on the same trip.

Daniel, of Bishopstoke, who attends St George's School, was nominated for the trip by children's charity Barnardo's. He told the Daily Echo: "It's great that whatever the start someone has had in their life, people like me have got the opportunity to do something like this."